Barrow board blocks bid for billboards

Posted: Tuesday, June 08, 1999

By J. Shawn DurhamStaff Writer

WINDER -- Take a drive on Georgia Highway 316 or Interstate 85 through Barrow County and look for the billboards displaying the location of the next available fast-food restaurant or pickup truck dealership.

There aren't any.

That is the point many Barrow County business owners have been trying to make. In early May, more than 200 county business owners signed a petition asking the Barrow County Board of Commissioners to make changes in the county's sign ordinance that would allow billboards along Ga. 316 and I-85.

But the effort to get clearance for billboards along the major thoroughfares was rejected by a 5-1 vote at a May 25 commission meeting, marking the third time in as many years that the commission has rejected changes to the sign ordinance.

The proposed change would have allowed 70-foot-high, 600-square-foot signs along the highways, but only on commercial and industrial property, and would have restricted density to one billboard every 1,000 feet.

The decision to maintain the billboard ban along the highways was not a measure to stunt commercial growth in Barrow County, said District 6 Commissioner Beth Caldwell.

''We were just not ready for the billboards just yet,'' Caldwell said. ''Right now, we have to take care of the land-use plan so we can know what parts (along Ga. 316 and I-85) will be agricultural or industrial and commercial.''

But signs along the two highways -- especially Ga. 316 -- would help businesses in downtown Winder, according to Winder car salesman Brad Akins, whose car dealership is located in downtown Winder. Ga. 316 runs only a few miles south of Winder.

''Personally, it would be good to have some signs along the highway to help my business and a lot of of other businesses downtown as well,'' Akins said.

Caldwell echoed Akins' remarks.

''We do need to have some kinds of signs sooner or later along 316 to draw attention to people who drive the road that Winder is over there. That could help the businesses for the city.'' she said. ''In the meantime, we are looking into having some of the state's blue 'help' signs, with info on restaurants and upcoming gas stations and that sort of thing, posted along the highways at major intersections.''

But billboards will not be allowed along the I-85 or Ga. 316 ''for some time'' according to County Commission Chairman Eddie Elder.

''It will be a while before the issue comes back up again,'' Elder said. ''Those who were opposed to any changes said they were afraid the companies from Athens, Gwinnett (County) and other places would come up and compete against our local businesses.''

Elder also said there was a fear that indecent material could be advertised on the billboards. And, he added, some people just want to maintain the billboard-free look of Ga. 316.

''I believe (changing the sign ordinance) will come up again, just not anytime soon,'' he said. ''But I hope one day we can get something along the highways.''